Anaheim to LA?

[allgrownup]

Is there public transportation that would get us from HoJo to the LA zoo? We are exploring all options, and a visit to the zoo is high on the list right now. If public transport is an option, I think we'd prefer that to driving.....Small town-ers here.

 

[Disneyland Veteran]

You could take the train at Angel Stadium to L.A. Union Station. From there I would think there would be a cab or shuttle to take you to the L.A. Zoo. If your traveling on a weekend though it might be a little more confusing, cause the train doesn't run on Sundays, at least the Metrolink doesn't. Good luck.

 

[spacemermaid]

I looked at the Metro (L.A. public tranportation) website http://www.metro.net , and it's do-able, but the place where one catches the connecting bus in downtown L.A. is in sort of an "iffy" area. ("iffy" meaning: downtown, crowded, dirty, in a place where it's easy to get on the wrong bus if one isn't used to taking the buses there, etc.) I've done the ride between Hollywood and Disneyland a few times, and having grown up/lived in L.A. most of my life it wasn't that bad, but it's not something I'd reccommend that someone not used to "the big city" or public transportation do. It'd certainly be cheaper than renting a car or even taking a train, but, again: I wouldn't, in good conscience, send anyone on such a ride if they weren't already used to the area.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I disagree about driving being too difficult for someone that isn't local. I think it's fine for someone to drive. After all, you simply get on the 5 at Disneyland and get off the 5 at the Zoo Exit. (The Zoo is literally off the freeway in Griffith Park - right across from the Gene Autry museum - which you see the back of from the freeway. (We live in Burbank, 5 minutes from the zoo and this is our route to DL.)

The biggest thing to deal with when you consider is LA Traffic is that is can be slow and bogged down. I actually feel safer driving in LA Traffic than I did growing up and living most of my driving life in St. Louis, as it goes slower and more consistent. Keep in mind that rush hour is a bit longer here than most places. If you do the Zoo, you want to get back on the road to DL by 3pm to beat rush hour. Also, you want to stay in the middle lanes of traffic when on the 5, as there are different freeways that branch off. The 10 will go to the right and the 101 will be on the far left lane. When you go back south, the 5 will branch off to the left, but once again, not using the far left lanne - that is for the 60.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Can I also add that you can rent a car for just the day right on Disneyland property in DTD. Someone can walk over, do the paperwork and drive the car back to the hotel.

Frankly, as someone who lives here, I find the public transport much more confusing and frankly much more limiting. Since you are definitely going into areas that are unfamiliar, I would prefer the option of staying on the freeway - which is the direct shot.

 

[allgrownup]

I disagree about driving being too difficult for someone that isn't local. I think it's fine for someone to drive. After all, you simply get on the 5 at Disneyland and get off the 5 at the Zoo Exit. (The Zoo is literally off the freeway in Griffith Park - right across from the Gene Autry museum - which you see the back of from the freeway. (We live in Burbank, 5 minutes from the zoo and this is our route to DL.)

The biggest thing to deal with when you consider is LA Traffic is that is can be slow and bogged down. I actually feel safer driving in LA Traffic than I did growing up and living most of my driving life in St. Louis, as it goes slower and more consistent. Keep in mind that rush hour is a bit longer here than most places. If you do the Zoo, you want to get back on the road to DL by 3pm to beat rush hour. Also, you want to stay in the middle lanes of traffic when on the 5, as there are different freeways that branch off. The 10 will go to the right and the 101 will be on the far left lane. When you go back south, the 5 will branch off to the left, but once again, not using the far left lanne - that is for the 60.

hmm. Thank you for that. I'll have to get together with the others and see what they say. Chances are good I'd make my son drive. Thinkthinkthink.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Really - it's not as bad as rumors have it cracked up to be. I've lived here for 8.5 years now and have literally driven in every type of road in the country (I had a traveling job that took me to every size/location of hospital in almost every state). I consider Boston and New York to be the worst traffic I have seen.

The freeways average 50-55 and slower. Especially in traffic. If you have patience, then it's not a problem. You pretty much get in the middle lanes and stay put. Drive with the flow of the traffic - use your signals. Remember, we don't have a lot of the tractor-trailer traffic that other states and freeways have - it's extremely rare to see a double-long.

 

[jlmarr]

Maybe as a Plan B is the OP could take Amtrak to the San Diego Zoo. Amtrak has a connecting bus - just use the station code SDZ. It would be a longer trip (probably) but the San Diego Zoo has a reputation as one of the world's best.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Is there public transportation that would get us from HoJo to the LA zoo? We are exploring all options, and a visit to the zoo is high on the list right now. If public transport is an option, I think we'd prefer that to driving.....Small town-ers here.

Hopefully to put your mind at ease, I had some relatives visit us, and we had the 20 year old drive all over, including up to San Francisco. They're from a small town and easily adapted to our freeways. I think YellowMickeyPonchos had a good recommendation to just drive straight up the 5 north until you get to the zoo exit. It will save you a lot of time, and give you that flexibility.